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America's Health Insurance Plans
Director of communications for America's Health Insurance Plans, a national trade association that represents the health industry
PROFILE
Clare Krusing
Guest
FROM Clare Krusing
To the Point
America's Health Safety Net Is Full of Holes The Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, was passed five years ago, when the Democrats controlled both houses of Congress. Since then, Republicans have voted to repeal it 60 times — but the latest effort, which happened yesterday, is the first to actually reach the White House. The Act, which was never designed to live up to its name, has provided health insurance to 15 million new people. But it doesn't include controls on the cost of insurance premiums, deductibles, drugs, hospital services or doctors' fees. They are all going up, and a new survey reveals the consequence is mountains of medical debt -- even when employers provide health insurance.
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To the Point
Trump plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.
To the Point
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.
To the Point
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.